loud on ethical living

Is The Zero Waste Lifestyle For You?

January 13, 2017

“Zero waste” is a buzz-phrase I’ve seen bandied about quite a lot here and there recently, not least within the blogosphere. Particularly within the vegan and minimalism circles, #zerowaste seems to be taking off and I’m all for it. For those of us wanting to lead a life less hampered by material possessions, creating less waste is a natural step to take. On a more pessimistic note, human overconsumption is killing the planet; we throw far too much away and are straying ever-further from sustainable, environmentally friendly lifestyles, and something needs to be done before it gets even more out of hand.

On a grander scale, the zero waste approach is informing the way governments and companies invest, and the way businesses create and innovate, moving towards more sustainable sources and means of production. There’s certainly a market for ethical, eco-friendly wares, whether it be clothing, cosmetics or food. Change is happening, and it’s definitely a positive thing to see bloggers and social media influencers getting on board and sharing useful tips and tricks on how the rest of us can get involved.

In the last few months, I’ve become increasingly mindful of the amount of waste I produce. Although I recycle wherever possible, there always seems to be some sort of material that can’t be, and is destined for an eternal life in the landfill. From the sheer volume of plastic packaging I get through, to the disposable food containers and coffee cups, and unsustainable household items I use daily, I have started to identify ways I can lead a more eco-friendly life, and be a more conscious consumer. However, the more I’ve started to consider myself in relation to the zero waste lifestyle, the more I’ve wondered if it’s quite suited to how I lead my life.

As a blogger, I get through a lot of beauty and skincare products, many of which are packaged unsustainably. I love buying new makeup, and usually end up with far more than I need or use, and am certainly not what you would call a minimalist. While I am turning increasingly to natural beauty brands whose packaging is recyclable, I am still creating a lot of extra waste at the end of the day. I wonder – is this high level of consumerism compatible with the zero waste lifestyle? And if it isn’t, would I prepared to give it up?

When it comes to the food that I buy, a lot of it is processed, non-organic, and wrapped up in plastic. I don’t currently have the money to shop for essentials at places (like Wholefoods and other health stores) where you can take your own packaging to buy products such as rice and pasta in bulk; even if I did, these places are not local to me and I’m not sure I have the time and energy to put into making trips further afield for food items that I normally order online to avoid going to the shops entirely. Doesn’t this attitude rule me out of the zero waste life altogether?

Much like my stance on being vegan, I believe that whatever contribution to producing less waste you can personally make at this time is worthwhile. For me, this means not using any plastic bags for groceries, staying on top of recycling (note: the zero waste approach is less about recycling and more about simply reusing and creating as little waste as possible), buying from more eco-friendly brands, shopping for fruit and vegetables locally and eliminating disposable coffee cups from my life, among other things. I can’t claim that I’ll be going plastic-free or composting my food waste overnight (although these are both long-term goals), but I still want to try and make an impact where I can.

Want to find out more about the zero waste life? Here are some resources to check out:

6 comments

Since going vegan I have really tried to lower my waste – I use canvas bags for my food shopping (I always keep a couple in my handbag for emergency purchases). I have stopped getting take out coffee (until I get a reusable to go cup). I find it shocking how much plastic packaging is on our everyday food i.e.) fruits and veggies… I wish supermarkets had a place to recycle all the packaging (they do this in Berlin which I highly approve of) Fab post 🙂 xo

Thanks Hayley 🙂 That’s so cool that they have that option in Berlin. The fact that so many things are wrapped in plastic is super annoying, I agree. I try to buy loose veggies/fruit wherever possible but some things like cucumber always seem to be plastic wrapped in supermarkets! Those are some great ways to cut down your plastic waste…I also use canvas bags for shopping and a reusable coffee cup xx

Great post Nadia. I’ve tried to make advances with being zero waste – my resolution in 2015 was to stop buying anything with non-recyclable packaging and I’ve tried to make smaller changes since then. I find it’s really easy with food and buying food/drink out or on the go, but it is more difficult with ordering stuff in. My pet hate are those envelopes packaged with bubble wrap – everything seems to arrive in one and they’re non-recyclable and just so bad for the environment! In terms of beauty and skincare products I stick to a couple of brands who recycle their own packaging – it’s not perfect but it works for me.

Thanks Laila! Sounds like you’re doing really well! It is so frustrating when so many things are unnecessarily wrapped in layers of plastic, and yes those bloody padded envelopes really get my goat. I am also trying to be more selective with which cosmetics companies I support, and look for their policies on recycling before buying. It’s impossible to be perfect at it when we live in a convenience-obsessed society but I’m starting to pick up some easy tips for avoiding creating unnecessary waste.

Since moving out of my Mum’s house and in with my boyfriend, I feel like I’ve actually noticed how much waste a household produces. I just can’t believe how fast our recycling bin fills up. I am trying hard to reduce my waste as much as I can, but do you know what really bugs me? When you get things like biscuits that are packaged in that plastic film, and it will say on the packaging that it’s not recyclable. If it’s not recyclable, WHY are you still using it? It’s annoying me that much, that I end up scouring the biscuit aisles for biscuits in packaging I can actually recycle.

Our recycling bin fills up so fast too, like in a matter of days it’s overflowing! I hear you, it’s so annoying when things are so unnecessarily wrapped in plastic and extra packaging. I wish brands cared more about the environment than they do about making their products “convenient” – and to me something that is packaged in layers of plastic isn’t convenient at all. Hopefully if more of us take a stand like you do and avoid buying from companies who do that, then change will come.

Hello and welcome to not so QUIET grrl, a blog dedicated to vegan and cruelty-free beauty and lifestyle. Whether you're after makeup and skincare recommendations or an insider's scope on the ups and downs of plant based living, you'll be sure to find it here. Come in, have a look around, and feel free to get in touch! Nadia xox